What do the Capitol riots in Washington DC, one of the biggest cyber-attacks in history and a ransomware attack on Hackney Council have in common? They all demonstrate how vulnerable state, business and personal data is from physical and virtual breaches. Read on to find out how you can protect your small business from cyber-attacks and data breaches.
Capitol riots
The Capitol riots in Washington DC last month not only raised questions about the physical security at the US government’s Capitol Building, but also of its cyber security within. Security analysts looked on aghast as photographs emerged of protesters posing at the unlocked computer screen of House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. In the haste to evacuate, countless other devices could also have been left wide open to snooping.
The worry now is that sensitive information may have been seized or that malware could have been deployed. Either way, a thorough investigation of the US government’s IT devices and networks, not to mention decisive remediation and redeployment, will be needed to restore the integrity of the superpower’s digital infrastructure. A time-consuming, but nonetheless necessary, process that comes as a major wakeup call.
SolarWinds hack
While the breach of the Capitol Building had an air of opportunism about it, most cyber-attacks are much more calculated and covert. As demonstrated by the high-profile SolarWinds attack. In the spring of 2020, an estimated 18,000 workers from government, telecoms and technology organisations worldwide obligingly downloaded a seemingly innocuous software update for popular American software, SolarWinds.
Little did they know that the company had been hacked and that secret code was embedded in their next software update. This enabled hackers to spy on thousands of organisations – including the US treasury and Homeland Security. In what is considered one of the biggest cyber-attacks in history, it could take years to fully understand the true extent of the state secrets and national intelligence that have been compromised.
Hackney Council cyber-attack
If the aforementioned data breaches in America seem far removed from our own daily lives, then think again. Cyber-attacks on our own bureaucratic systems in the UK happen relatively regularly. In fact, it emerged just recently that Hackney Council had been the victim of a ransomware attack. It’s understood that the personal details of council staff and residents have subsequently been posted to the dark web by the perpetrators.
The significant factor in this case is the real-world impact that this attack had on the lives of ordinary people. Key council services, notably land search requests for people buying property, were disrupted. This meant some house sales fell through, leaving many fuming residents out of pocket. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council was the victim of a similar ransomware attack last year, which reportedly cost it more than £10m.
Intellesec keeps your data safe
“If there’s one thing these incidences tell us it’s that cyber-security is everyone’s problem,” said Sol Pandor, Managing Director at Intellesec. “From governments to businesses, councils and individuals; none of us are immune to data breaches. Whilst we put our trust in government organisations to handle sensitive personal and national information safely, it’s clear that a determined minority can still gain access if they’re motivated.
“If government agencies are prone to data breaches from break-ins, malware and ransomware attacks, what chance does a small business stand? Plenty, actually, if they make cyber security a priority. Our fully managed cyber security services for small businesses, detect, protect and remove known and unknown threats. We offer expert advice and a range of solutions that can protect your business and its valuable data.”
For more information about any of our leading cyber security solutions, or to discuss your requirements in more detail, please contact Intellesec today on 0116 3266123 or email hello@intellesec.co.uk.
